2011 technical changes ....who gains , who loses ?

[jgh]

During the tyre tests the Pirelli's were described as having a weak rear. Will this not give the teams with KERS experienece an advantage?

My thinking is that McLaren had to rebalance the car during mid 2009 before it could get the best from its KERS pacakage. So it has experience of the energy and balance issues with KERS.

If I recall Renault and Ferrari has reliability problems with KERS and will need to put engineering resources into reliability. RB whilst having a good rear in 2009 have the issue of more fuel weight and the energy KERS will inject into changed rear tyres as well as handling the balance with the addition of the KERS battery packs.

[PlatinumZealot]

Is that standard weight distribution rule for 2011? Just pondering the implications..

[marcush.]

only .5% degree of freedom .but when ?only empty tank? with driver in the car ?Not sure what they have done.

[WhiteBlue]

Is that standard weight distribution rule for 2011? Just pondering the implications..

It is just for 2011. In 2012 weight distribution will be free again. The rule was decided because they had to design the cars first and then they learn about the properties of the tyres. In order to prevent the design becoming a lottery they said that it should be the same for all. In March when they know all the tyre properties and start the 2012 cars the standard weight distribution will not apply to the 2012 designs. For the 2011 season the weight distribution will be enforced by scrutineering.

[JohnsonsEvilTwin]

Another thing that will not favour Red Bull for 2011 is the new front splitter test.

Their front wing ran visibly lower than most teams, if not all. The thoughts of many commentators and "experts" was that the front splitter flexing up was a big reason for this.
The new test will stop this dead in its tracks.

[scotty86]

Another thing that will not favour Red Bull for 2011 is the new front splitter test.

Their front wing ran visibly lower than most teams, if not all. The thoughts of many commentators and "experts" was that the front splitter flexing up was a big reason for this.
The new test will stop this dead in its tracks.

Of course that is assuming that most of Red Bull's advantage lay in the flexi parts, which i certainly don't think was the case. Sure, it helped, but it was definitely overstated.

[mith]

If I was to put my money I would bet on car being very efficient aero-wise, by which I mean producing a lot of DF with moderate levels of drag. I'm not saying RB6 wasn't flexing (actually I think it was), but I rather consider it as being another refinement in overall great package.

[JohnsonsEvilTwin]

Of course that is assuming that most of Red Bull's advantage lay in the flexi parts, which i certainly don't think was the case. Sure, it helped, but it was definitely overstated.

It is unquantifiable the exact advantage they had with a flexing splitter AND wing.
We do know however, that a flexing splitter and wing provides a decent advantage at medium and high speed(corners) tracks... An RB6 specialty.

Not saying that this is where Red Bulls pace secret lies, because its about the overall package. But you have to see this as bit of a hinderance, as I dont think any other team(Ferrari excluded) got close to copying Red Bulls flexing this year.

[autogyro]

IMO the genius of Newey was to create a car with high DF low drag, that maintained a soft mechanical suspension range that was fully adjustable, while still maintaining an even and consistant ride height.

[raymondu999]

I think you mean "relatively" low drag, given its downforce level.

[marcush.]

Of course that is assuming that most of Red Bull's advantage lay in the flexi parts, which i certainly don't think was the case. Sure, it helped, but it was definitely overstated.

It is unquantifiable the exact advantage they had with a flexing splitter AND wing.
We do know however, that a flexing splitter and wing provides a decent advantage at medium and high speed(corners) tracks... An RB6 specialty.

Not saying that this is where Red Bulls pace secret lies, because its about the overall package. But you have to see this as bit of a hinderance, as I dont think any other team(Ferrari excluded) got close to copying Red Bulls flexing this year.

We have seen the following:
Macs had a very good idea implemented and their advantage got eaten away in the second half of the season completely.

Ferrari copied Neweys EBD and part of the flexy wing and reduced the gap to almost zero in the last third of the season.
so the general concept of the RB was by no means as far ahead as we are made to believe .It just had some features that made it better performing.the Ferrari had the potential to match the RB.No doubt about it.
The Mac was too specific and a bit like a top team running Force India ideas of 2009 the cars layout was not suited to all tracks.
No doubt Merc and Macs have started with the best Kers package of 2009 ...if that is a sign of them having an advantage in 2011 is to be seen ...The Merc kers is extensively featured on the web..so the opponents had plenty of time to analyse where they lost out.

[godlameroso]

Do you suppose any teams will be gearing their development, towards a car that can run well with race fuel, as opposed to a car that is good at qualifying? Also does anyone see the possibility of using KERS to have any effect on fuel saving? Maybe a driver that can use KERS during certain key moments when the injectors are at full load would be able to increase mileage somewhat.

Are there any provisions in the rules that limit or prohibit the use of the MGU to provide some sort of electronic torque distribution maybe in a passive system? Even if it was just for the rear wheels it could be used to improve traction.

[H. Zedozil]

POLL: Who will be the best midfield team in 2011 F1 season http://twtpoll.com/27e5k8
I voted for Team Lotus!

[Byronrhys]

Where has all this lotus hype come from, Williams and Sauber both have more resources, Sauber probably have re-calibrated the supercomputer and utilized their wind tunnel to the fullest unlike lotus who use a third party one, the midfield will stay the same as it was last year with a small jump from one or two teams.

[Tamburello]

Where has all this lotus hype come from, Williams and Sauber both have more resources, Sauber probably have re-calibrated the supercomputer and utilized their wind tunnel to the fullest unlike lotus who use a third party one, the midfield will stay the same as it was last year with a small jump from one or two teams.

What hype are you referring to? I think it is reasonable to assume Lotus, with the reliability and performance of the Renault/Red Bull drivetrain already sealed, will able to design enough aero downforce to get on the pace of the lower midfield in 2011.